Answering Your Questions: Mascara for Sensitive Eyes

After my last mascara blog went up here and on Allure's Facebook page (become a fan there if you haven't already!), I noticed that a bunch of FB commenters asked about formulas that don't leave sensitive eyes red and watery. Good question! I asked makeup artist Troy Surratt for advice. One of the most important things to remember if you have very sensitive eyes, he says, "is to use a hypoallergenic or very basic formula like Shu Uemura Basic Mascara or Maybelline Great Lash." Surratt also recommends the ultra-sensitive stay away from: lengthening and thickening mascaras, "since they may contain fibers that could flake off as the day progresses and leave particles in your eyes, causing discomfort and sensitivity"; waterproof formulas, which contain added polymers and ingredients, and "more ingredients increase the risk of irritation"; and colored mascaras (especially purples, red-based browns, and burgundies—makeup-related eye sensitivities often are due to the use of red pigments). And we know you've heard this before, but it bears repeating: Throw out mascaras after three months of use. They begin to dry out after they're opened, and, Surratt says, "the drier the formula becomes, the more likely it is to break down on the lashes and flake into the eyes."
PHOTO: COURTESY OF SHU UEMURA